Improvement in fastenings for chests and boxes



J. H.. MARVIIL.

Improvement in Fastenings for Chests and Boxes..

Patented May 14, 1822 HHH AM. PHOIQUYHOGRAPHIU 00.1w. x (osavnuz's P1200553) PATENT Grrron.

JOSHUA H. MARVIL, or LAUREL, DELAWARE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FASTENINGS FOR CHESTS AND BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,819, dated May 14, 1872.

Improcemenls in Fastenings for Chests, Fruit- .Bomes, (I20.

My invention relates to improvements in fastenings for securing the lids of fruit and other chests; and consists of aplate secured to the lid having an eye, through which is passed a bar of flexible metal, or a wire, bent to the form shown, the ends of the same being formed with lips or toes, which pass through and engage with the lower edge of a metal socket secured to the chest, all of which will be fully described hereafter.

In the drawing, Figure l is a front view of a chest with my improvement applied thereto, the lid being slightly raised. Fig. 2 is a front View of a circular chest with my improvement, the lid being closed andfastened. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line or m, Fig. 2, of the improved fastening applied to 'a chest.

Arepresents an ordinary chest, and B the lid of the same. To the lid is secured a metal plate, D, which may be cast or otherwise formed with an eye, 0. 0 represents a flexible bar, which is passed through the eye 0 of the plate I), and the ends bent down so as to form two arms or members, f f, the ends of which are provided with lips or toes, d d, projecting in opposite directions, as shown. The bar thus formed is capable of being oscillated upon its axis and thrown back upon the lid of the chest when not in use. E represents a metal plate, with a raised portion, 6, to form a socket, F, the top portion a of which is wider than the bottom b so as to form an incline surface upon the inside.

In order to lock the chest, the lid is closed when the arms f with the lips d d enter the socket F and pass down the incline and engage and interlock with the lower endof the plate E, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

' Instead of the plate E being formed with inclines, as shown, it may be perfectly straight; or it may have recesses, at about its center, into which the toes d 01 may enter to fasten the lid; or the plate may be of a semicircular form with recesses inside into which the toes 61 may enter; or it may be of any other convenient and suitable form.

It is essential in order to make the catch operate perfectly without the aid of the hands that the lid of the chest project out alittle in front, so that when the arms f f bear against the front edge of the lid, and thelid being closed, the ends of the arms will not strike against the top of the" chest but will enter precisely into the socket F. This may, however, be omitted as the bar O-may be manipulated with the hands.

Heretofore it has been the custom to fasten the lids of chests with common locks, and the keys becoming lost dnrin g transportation renders it necessary to break open the chest, and causes its further use without repair impossible; or, sometimes the lids have been fastened with heavy and very expensive hasps, which soon get out of order and are useless.

All of these objections are obviated by my improved fastening, which is very cheap, efficient, and durable.

What I claim as my invention is A fastening for chests, consisting of a plate, D, havingan eye, 0, and provided with the flexible bar 0, constructed as described, in

combination with a plate or socket, E, all operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

To the above I have signed my name this 15th day of April, A. D. 1872.

, JOSHUA H. MARVIL. Witnesses:

THEODORE MITCHELL, J 013E HEAM. 

